Forget about the happy meal, McDonald's is all about the healthy meal right now.
The popular fast food chain announced on Monday that it is making major changes to some of its menu items, including its Chicken McNuggets, in order to provide consumers with healthier ingredients in its popular more healthy options.
However, before customers start freaking out that the fried finger food is being thrown out, rest assured that this is not the case. Instead, McDonald's revealed that it has removed artificial preservatives from its Chicken McNuggets and breakfast items, including its pork sausage patties, omelet-style eggs and scrambled eggs.
Now, the chain's chicken nuggets are free of artificial flavors and colors — a huge move from the once pink slush days. This means they will no longer contain sodium phosphates, citric acid, safflower oil and chicken skin. Instead, the chicken product will be made with pea and rice starch.
McDonald's also proudly announced that the only chicken served from the restaurant (such as in a grilled chicken sandwich and in Chicken McNuggets) is the type that is free of antibiotics that are used on humans, a goal it has reached almost a year earlier than expected.
This isn't the only major change McDonald's is making.
We're taking steps to ensure the food you love is food you feel good about. Learn more: https://t.co/vwpW3obE5u pic.twitter.com/9Or57PN1tW
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) August 1, 2016
The company also announced its plans to remove high-fructose corn syrup from its sandwich and burger buns. This means Big Macs, Quarter Pounders and McChicken sandwiches are about to get slightly healthier.
The new changes will affect about half of the menu.
It appears that the decision to cut out antibiotics, artificial ingredients and high-fructose corn syrup comes as the public continues to be more mindful of its health — even when indulging in fast food. No one wants to eat bread that contains the same material as Yoga mats, or chicken that has been pumped up to the max.
"More than ever, people care about their food — where it comes from, what goes into it and how it's prepared," McDonald's president Mike Andres said. "We're making changes to ensure the food we're proud of is food our customers love and feel good eating."
Of course, removing these items sounds healthier, but consumers need to keep in mind that the calories will remain the same. Eating a Big Mac is not all of a sudden good for your health just because one bad ingredient no longer remains.
However, McDonald's does continue to make strides to incorporate healthier items, such as adding kale and spinach to its salads, and is committed to using cage-free eggs in all U.S. and Canada locations by 2025.
Source: Medium
Photo: Calgary Reviews | Flickr
